RINGASKIDDY is not a backyard, it is a gateway.
And it is no ordinary gateway because it opens onto the ocean.

The experts in Cork County Hall refused planning
permission to Indaver for, as I understand it, geographical - not
toxicological - reasons.

After all, Ringaskiddy is a deep-water port zoned
for port-related development in the county development plan.

The County Hall planners (and the county development
plan itself) respected this simple geography when they refused Indaver’s
inappropriate proposal for such a strategically valuable location.

Basic strategic thinking required the planners
to ensure the port area be retained for future port-related development.
Having done Inter Cert geography I know enough to be able to understand
the wisdom of their decision.

Indaver appealed this sensible judgement to
An Bórd Pleanála and, incredibly, the board granted
them planning permission - something which required the appeals board
itself to “materially contravene” the county development
plan. Cork is blessed with the world’s second-largest natural
harbour - a cornerstone of Ireland’s prosperity. Unlike Sydney
harbour, the world’s biggest, Cork harbour is located at a crucially
strategic point on shipping routes between Europe and the US.
Someone with even Inter Cert geography could confidently predict great
opportunities for Cork harbour. The zoning and development of Ringaskiddy
as a deep-water port seeks to encourage such realistic optimism.

Regrettably, the wrong developments now being
permitted by An Bórd Pleanála will constitute a major
impediment to the future prosperity of the people of Cork.

What on earth were the members of An Bórd
Pleanála doing during their Inter Cert geography lessons all
those years ago?